Container filling apparatus



July 16, 1940.

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS B. S. HARRINGTON Filed nec. 1o, 1958 2sheets-sheet 1 July 16,1194@ A B. s. HARRINGTON 2,208,028

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES eATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for llingcontainers with melted lard, shortening, compound, or other congealablematerial under pressure. More particularly the invention relates to thattype of container lling apparatus which is primarily .designed for usein connection with a platform scale or like weigh ing device and as themain or essential parts thereof comprises: (l) a supporting structure;2.) a discharge nozzle which is mounted on the supporting structure forvertical movement over the platform of the scales and is adapted uponplacement of a container on the platform to be lowered into thecontainer and in response to the )flow of the material therethrough todirect the material into the container for container filling purposes;(3) mechanism for automatically raising the nozzle as the material isintroduced into the container; and (4) valve means whereby the flow ofthe material `through the nozzle into the container may be cut off whenthe container is lled to the desired extent.

One object of the invention is to provide a container filling apparatusof this type which is generally an improvement upon, and is more eicientand sanitary and produces less voids than, previously .designedapparatus for the same purpose by reason of the fact that the nozzleraising mechanism is actuated by the now of material to `30 the nozzleand operates soto control the nozzle in connection Withraising thereofthat the nozzle is maintained at a substantially fixed or uniformdistance above the level of the material in the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a containerflllingvapparatus of the last mentioned character in which the automaticnozzle raising mechanism comprises a gear pump through which passes thematerial under pressure in 40 transit to the nozzle and in additionclutch equipped gearing between the rotor of the pump and the nozzle,and the valve means for controlling the flow of material through thenozzle into the container is so connected to the clutch part of thegearing that when it is closed to cut orf the flow of material throughthe nozzle when the container is lled to the desired extent the clutchis automatically disengaged and the nozzle raising mechanism thus stops.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container fillingapparatus of the type and character under consideration which includes avalve controlled by-pass around the pump of the nozzle raising mechanismwhereby the speed of upward travel of the nozzle may be adjusted or orcontrolled in connection with the lling of containers of differentsizes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a containervfilling apparatus which may be manufactured at a comparatively low andreasonable cost and effectively and efficiently accom plishes itsintended purpose.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages andcharacteristics of the present container filling apparatus will beapparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which arehereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at theconclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a Figure l is a front View of aduplex apparatus embodying the invention, showing one of the nozzles inits lowered position within a container to be `filled preliminary tolling such container, and the other nozzle in its raised position at thecon clusion of a container filling operation;`

Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus, parts being broken away andshown in section for illustrative purposes;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 ofFigure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional View of the two-way valve which constitutes themeans for controlling the flow of the material and operates when theplug thereof is in one position to permit the material to ilow to one ofthe nozzles and when the plug is in its other position to cut olf theflow of material to the o-ne nozzle and permit it to flow to the othernozzle;

Figure 54 is a sectional View of one of the nozzles; and

Figure 6 is asectional view of the gear pump which forms a part of theautomatic material actuated nozzle raising mechanism.

The apparatus which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferredembodiment of the invention. It is adapted to ll containers C with lard,shortening, compound, or other congeal able material underV pressure andvis what may be termed a duplex apparatus. As part-s thereof theapparatus comprises a supporting structure l and a pair of containerfilling nozzles 8 and 9. Two containers C are shown in the drawings andthese are adapted 'to be filled successively and then replaced withother containers for filling purposes. During filling, the twocontainers CI are adapted to be supported b-y a pair of laterally spacedplatform scales S. The latter embody container` supporting platforms pand enable the operator of the apparatus to ll the containers to apredetermined or desired weight.

The supporting structure I is adapted to rest upon the ioor of the roomor space in which the apparatus is used and embodies a base I Il, astandard II,-a lower cross-head I2, and an upper cross-head i3. The baseIi) is in the form of a flanged casting. It is disposed midway betweenthe scales S and embodies a vertically extending cylindrical socket I4for the lower end of the standard Il. The standard is hollow, as shownin Figure 3, and has an open upper end. The lowermost head l2 is in theform of a casting and embodies at the central portion thereof acylinrical sleeve-like member -I5 which extends around and is bolted orotherwise xedly secured to the central portion of the hollow standardil. As shown in Figure 1, the lower cross-head is horizontally elongatedand is positioned so that the ends thereof overlie the containersupporting platforms p of the scales S. The upper crosshead i3 is thesame in size and design as the lower cross-head I2. It is positioned inoverhanging and parallel relation with the lower cross-head and embodiesa centrally disposed sleeve-like part I6. This part surrounds and isxedly secured to the upper end of the standard l I with the result thatthe upper cross-head constitutes a fixed part of the supportingstructure 'I. The nozzles 8 and 9 are positioned over the platformsprespectively, as shown in Figure 1. They are adapted alternately to belowered and raised and embody horizontally extending perforated platesIl whereby the material is caused to be introduced into the containersin spray form.

The nozzle 8 is located at one side of the supporting structure and isconnected to the lower end of a vertically extending rod I8. This rod iscarried by a pair of vertically aligned bearings I9 and 2l) at theadjacent ends of the lower and upper cross-heads I2 and i3 so that ittogether with the nozzle 8 is vertically movable. The lower end of therod is hollow and serves as a conduit for conveying the material to thenozzle 8. The upper end of the rod I8 is solid and embodies-alongitudinally extending rack 2l. The rod I8 is counterweighted by acounterweight 22 so that it remains stationary except when movedvertically either manually or by power. This counterweight 22 isdisposed and vertically mov-v able in the standard II, as shown inFigure 3, and is connected to the nozzle carrying rod I8 by a cable 23.One end of the cable is connected to 'and eye at the upper end of thecounterweight and the other end of the cable is attached to a laterallyextending pin on a fixed collar 24 on the central portion of the rod I8.The central portion of the cable extends over and around a pair ofsheaves 25 and 26 on the upper cross-head I3. The sheave 25 is disposedadjacent to the bearing 28 and the sheave 26 is carried by a pair ofbrackets 21. The sleeve-like part I 6 on the central portion of thecross-head is disposed over the upper end of the standard I I.. Thecounterweight is substantially equal in weight tov the nozzle carryingrod I8. When the rod is moved downwards the counterweight moves upwardsin the standard and when the rod is shifted upwardly the counterweightmoves downwards. The collar 24 forms a stop for limiting downwardmovement ofthe rod and embodies a forwardly extending handle 28. Thelatter is adapted to be grasped in connection with manual lowering ofthe rod. The collar is positioned at such a distance with respect to thenozzle 8 that when it is in abutment with the bearing I9 of thecrosshead I2 and the rod is thus restricted against further downwardmovement the nozzle 8 is disposed a small distance above the platform ofthe subjacent scale S. The rod I8 is adapted to be lowered manually bythe operator of the apparatus to its lowermost position in order tobring the nozzle 8 directly over the bottom of the container on theplatform of the subjacent scale, and is then adapted to be raised bypower as the container filling material iiows through the hollow lowerend of the rod and then into the container via the nozzle 8.

The nozzle 9 is connected to the lower end of a vertically extending rod29. The latter is the same in length and design as the rod I3 and ismounted for vertical sliding movement over the platform of the otherscale S by way of a pair of vertically spaced aligned bearings 3i! and3|. The bearing 30 is formed as an integral part of the lower cross-headI2 and the bearing 3l is formed as an integral part of the uppercrosshead I3. The lower end of the rod 29 is hollow and forms a conduitor duct for conveying the container filling material to the nozzle 9.The upper end of the rod is solid and embodies a rack 32. A collar 33 isfixed to the central portion of the rod 29 and forms a stop for limitingdownward movement of the nozzle 9. This collar is spaced from the nozzle9 a distance equal to the distance between the collar 24 and the nozzle8 and embodies a handle Sil whereby manual lowering of the rod 29 by theoperator of the apparatus is facilitated. The rod 29 is counterweightedlike the rod I8 in order that it remains stationary except when movedmanually or by power. For purposes of counterweighting the rod 2S, acounterweight `35 and a cable 36 are provided. The counterweight 35 isdisposed next to the counterweight 22 for the rod I8 and is verticallymovable in the standard EI. One end of the cable 36 is anchored to oneend of the counterweight 35 and the other end of the cable is attachedto a laterally extending pin (not shown) on the collar 33. The centralportion of the cable extends over and around a pair of sheaves 3l and 38on the upper cross-head I 3. The sheave 31 is located adJacent to thebearing 3| and the sheave 33 is mounted on the brackets 2l and isdisposed over the open upper end of the standard II.

The material with which the containers C are to be lled is supplied tothe nozzles 8 and 9 under pressure by way of a pipe system including apipe 39 and a two-way valve 40. The pipe 39 1s adapted to have thematerial pumped into it under pressure from a tank or other source ofsupply (not shown), and is arranged so that the discharge end thereofterminates in front of the supporting structure and between the twocrossheads. The valve 40 is mounted on a laterally extending ear 4I onthe sleeve part l5 of the lower cross-head l2. It comprises a casing 42and a rotatable plug 43 (see Figure 4) and constitutes the control meanswhereby the now of the material under pressure through the nozzles maybe cut off at the conclusion of the container filling operations. Thecasing i2 of the valve is in the form of an inverted T and embodies avertically extending inlet branch lil and a pair of horizontallyextending, oppositely facing outlet branches 45 and 4S. The branch 45extends in 75- shaft 89.

turn to drive a speed reducing unit 16 and consists of a pair ofsprockets 11 and 18 and a chain 19. The sprocket 11 is xedly connectedto the outer or projecting end of the shaft 15 and the sprocket 11 isxed to the drive shaft of the speed reducing unit 11. The chain 19extends around vthe two sprockets 11 and 18 and forms a drivingconnection between the two. The speed reducing unit 16 is mounted on theupper cross-head I3 and embodies a horizontally extending driven Thelatter overlies and lextends parallel to the upper cross-head i3 and isjournaled at its end in bearing brackets 8l. The pinions 615 and 65 arerotatably mounted on the outer ends of the shaft 88 and mesh with theracks 2l and 32 respectively. They are disposed outwardly of the bearingbrackets 8l and are connected for drive by the shaft 89 through themedium of the clutches 62 and 63. The clutch 62 is associated with thepinion 64 and comprises a horizontally shiftable tooth equipped clutchmem-- ber 82. The latter is slidably mounted on and connected by splinesfor drive by the shaft Si! and is adapted when shifted inwards to engageoutwardly facing teeth on the pinion 54 and clutch said pinion for driveby the shaft. When the clutch member 82 is in its operative position,that is, in clutched relation with the pinion, a driving connection isestablished between the shaft and the pinion. When this connection isestablished and the shaft 8U is rotated as a result of drive of the gear63 of the gear pump by the passage or iiow of material under pressurethrough the pump casing 61, the pinion lili which is in meshI with therack 2| operates through the medium of the rack to raise the rod i8 andthe nozzle 8. When the container C beneath the nozzle 8 is being filledwith the mate rial and the clutch member 82 of the clutch 62 is in itsoperative position the shaft I8 and the nozzle 8 are raised with theresult that the nozzle moves upwardly in spaced relation with the levelof the material in the container. By having the nozzle 8 move upwardly asmall distance above the level of the material in the container underthe nozzle voids in the material are eliminated and an effective andefficient filling of the con tainer results. The gearing comprising thepinion 54, the rack 2l, the speed reducing unit 16 and the chain andsprocket driving connection 6I is such that for a container of a givensize the nozzle 8 raises at such a rate that it is spaced a uniformdistance above the level of the material in the container beneath thenozzle 8 at all times during a lling operation. The clutch 53 is asso-Ciated with the pinion 65 and comprises a horizontally' shiftable clutchmember 83. This member embodies inwardly facing clutch teeth and isslidably mounted on and connected by splines for drive by the shaft 80,and is adapted when shifted inwards to engage outwardly facing teeth onthe pinion 65 and form a driving connection between this pinion and theshaft 80. When this connec-r tion is established and the shaft 80 isrotated as the result'of the flow of the material under pressure throughthe gear pump 60, the pinion 65 which is in mesh with the rack 32 on theupper end of the rod 29 operates to raise the rod together with itsnozzle 9. When the container C beneath the nozzle 9 is being filled theclutch member 83 of the clutch 63 is shifted into its clutched positionwith the pinion 65 with the re-v sult that the nozzle 9 is automaticallyraised dur` ing the container filling operation. When the clutches 62and 63 are in their unclutched po-E sition the rods I'8 and 29 are freeso that they may be shifted downwardly by manual manipulation.

In order automatically to shift the clutch 62 into its clutched positionwhen the control valve 48 is manipulated to effect flow of material un-.der pressure to the nozzle 8 and to shift the clutch 63 into itsoperative position when the valve is manipulated to effect flow of thematerial to the nozzle 9 in connection with filling of a containerbeneath the last mentioned nozzle, a linkage 84 is provided. Thislinkage comprises an arm 85, a vertically extending link 86, a bellcrank 81, a horizontally extending link 8B, and a pair of clutchshifting levers 89 and 90. The arm 85 is connected to, and projectsradially from, a stem 9i on the plug 43 of the control valve 40. Thelink 8B is pivotally connected at its lower end to the distal end of thearm 85, and

is pivotally connected at its upper end to one' arm of the bell crank81. The bell crank, as shown in Figure 1, is pivotally connected to thesleeve-like part i6 of the upper cross-head I3. The other arm of thebell crank is pivotally connected to the central portion of the link 88.The clutch shifting lever 89 is pivotally connected to a bracket 92 onthe bearing 29 and has a fork at one end thereof whereby it is pivotallyconnected to the clutch member 82 of the clutch 62. The other end of thelever 89 is pivotally connected to the contiguous end of the link 88.When the plug 43 on the control valve 40 is turned so as Ato establishcommunication between the inlet branch 44 and the outlet branch 45 ofthe valve the arm 85, the link 86, the crank 81 andL the link 83 soshift the clutch shifting lever 89 that the clutch 82 is brought intoits operative position` The clutch shifting lever is associated with theclutch 63 and is pivotally connected to a bracket 93 on the bearing 3|.lever extends vertically and is provided at its upper end with a forkwhereby it is pivotally connected to the clutch member 83 of the clutch63. The lower end of the lever 90 is connected to the contiguous oradjacent end of the link 88. When the plug 43 of the control Valve 49 isshifted to establish communication between the inlet branch 44 of thevalve casing and the outlet branch 4S in connection with filling of acontainer beneath the nozzle 9, the arm 85, the link 86, the bell crank81 and the link 88 so shift the lever 99 as to bring the clutch 63 intoits operative or clutched position. By having the clutch shifting levers89 and 90 cross-connected by the link 88 of the linkage 84 one of theclutches is rendered operative and the other inoperative. When the plug43 of the control valve is shifted in one direction one clutch isrendered inoperative and the other operative. When the plug is rotatedin the opposite direction the one clutch is rendered operative and theother clutch inoperative. The linkage 84 exemplifies or constitutessimple means for clutching the pinion 64 for drive by the shaft 88 whenthe valve 4i] is manipulated to effect discharge of the material underpressure through the nozzle 8 and for clutching the pinion 65 for driveby the shaft 88 when the v valve 40 is manipulated to effect flow of thematerial under pressure to the nozzle 9.

In order to adjust or control the upward travel of the nozles 8 and 9 inconnection with the filling of containers of different sizes, a Valvecontrolled by-pass 94 around the gear pump G0 is provided. This by-passextends between the pipes 39 and 13 and includes a control valve This95. When the valve is open a portion of the material under pressure isby-passed around the pump. When it is desired to lill large containers,that is, containers having a large diameter, the Valve .'-i is opened.'Ihis results in a reduced drive of the pump 5B and a correspondingdiminution of the rate of upward travel of the nozzles. When it isdesired to ll containers having a small diameter the valve 95 is closedor partially closed. This results in greater flow of the material underpressure through the pump 5D and a corresponding increase in the .rateof v upward travel of the nozzles. By adjusting the valve 95 the speedof upward travel of the nozzles may be controlled so that it harmonizeswith the iniiow of material into the containers. When the valve isproperly adjusted the nozzles will raise, in connection with containerfilling operations, at such a rate of speed that the nozzles will beuniformly spaced at all times above the level of the material in thecontainers.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Assuming that there aretwo containers on the platforms p of the scales S and it is desired toll the containers, the operator of the apparatus first moves downwardlythe nozzle equipped rod i8 in order to bring the nozzle aslight'distance above the bottom of the container beneath such nozzle.After this step, the operator manipulates the control valve 4Q so as toeiect communication between the inlet branch lll of the valve casing andthe outlet branch d5. During shift of the valve as aforesaid, the clutch62 is shifted into its clutched position with respect to the pinion 6dand a driving connection is established between the pinion and the shaft80. As material under pressure flows through the pump 6@ the valve llland the nozzle 8, the rod I8 and the nozzle are caused automatically toraise, as hereinbefore described. While the container beneath thenozzle' is being filled the operator moves downwardly the 'rod 29 inorder to bring the nozzle 9 into a position over the bottom of thesubjacent container. When the container beneath the nozzle 8 is `filledto the desired extent, the operator by swinging the crank 59 rotates theplug #i3 of the control valve @il so as to cut off communication betweenthe inlet branch 44 and the outlet branch d5 of the valve casing andestablish communication between the inlet branch and the outlet branch46. In connection with this control movement of the valve Ml the clutchS2 is shifted into its inoperative position and the clutch 65S isshifted into its operative position wherein a driving connection isestablished between the pinion 65 and the rack 32. During flow of thematerial under pressure through'` the nozzle 9 into the subjacentcontainer the rod 29 together with the nozzle is raised, as hereinbeforedescribed.

In the event that the nozzles do not travel upwardly in proper timedrelation with the flow of the material into the containers it is onlynecessary for the operator to manipulate the valve of thevalve-controlled by-pass 9d.

The herein described apparatus may be built at a comparatively low costand effectively and eiiiciently fulfills its intended purpose. It issimple in design and is characterized by the fact that with the presentnozzle raising mechanism any increase or decrease in the rate of flow ofthe material under pressure results in a corresponding increase ordecrease in the upward rate of travel of the nozzles.

Whereas the invention has been described in connection with a duplexcontainer lling apparatus, it is to be understood that it may beembodied in a single apparatus, that is an apparatus embodying a singlenozzle. It is also to be understood that the invention is not to berestricted to the details set forth since these may `be modied withinthe scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a container lling apparatus of the character described, thecombination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on the structureto move into and out of the container, means for iiowing material underpressure to the nozzle for container lling purposes when the nozzle isin the container, and means actuated by the material during flow thereofto the nozzle for withdrawing the nozzle from the container during acontainer filling operation.

2. In a container lling apparatus of the `character described, thecombination of a supporting structure, a counterweighted nozzle mountedon the structure to slide vertically into and out of the container andadapted manually to be lowered into the container, means for iiowingmaterial under pressure to the nozzle for container filling purposesupon lowering ofthe nozzle into the container, and means actuated by thematerial during flow thereof to the nozzle for raising the nozzle duringa container iilling operation.

3. In a container filling apparatus of the character described, thecombination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on the structureto move into and out of the container, pipe means for iiowing materialunder pressure to the nozzle for container filling purposes when thenozzle is in the container, and means including a rotary device drivenby the material in transit through the pipe means to the nozzle forwithdrawing the nozzle from the container during a container fillingoperation.

4. In a container filling apparatus of the character described, thecombination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on the structureto move vertically into and out of the container and adapted manually tobe lowered into the container, pipe means for flowing material underpressure to the nozzle for container iilling purposes upon manuallowering of the nozzle into the container, and means including a rotarydevice connected to the pipe means and driven by the material in transitthrough said means to the nozzle for raising the nozzle during acontainer filling operation.

5. In a container filling aparatus of the character described, thecombination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on` thestructure to move into and out of the container, valve controlled meansfor flowing material under pressure to the nozzle for container fillingpurposes when the nozzle is in the container, and means operativeautomatically upon opening of the valve and actuated by the materialduring flow thereof. to the nozzle for withdrawing the nozzle from thecontainer during a container filling operation.

6. In a container lling apparatus of the character described, thecombination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on the structureto move into and out of the container, valve controlled means forflowing material under pressure to the nozzle for container fillingpurposes when the nozzle is in the container, means operative inresponse to ow of the material to the nozzle for withdrawing the nozzlefrom the container during a container filling operation, including aclutch adapted when engaged to render said means eective, and means forautomatically engaging the clutch and rendering the withdrawing meansoperative upon opening of the valve.

'7. In a container filling apparatus of the character described, thecombination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on the structureto move into and out of the container, valve controlled pipe means forflowing material under pressure to the nozzle for container fillingpurposes when the nozzle is in the container, means for raising thenozzle during a container lling operation comprising a rotary deviceadapted to be driven by the material in transit through the pipe meansto the nozzle, a control clutch between the device and the nozzleadapted when engaged to render the withdrawing means operative and whendisengaged to permit manual lowering of the nozzle, and means forautomatically engaging the clutch upon opening of the valve.

8. Ina container filling apparatus of the character described, thecombination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on the structureto move into and out of the container, means for owing material underpressure to the nozzle for container lling purposes when the nozzle isin the container, means operative in response to flow of the material tothe nozzle for withdrawing the nozzle from the container during acontainer filling operation, and means for varying the speed ofwithdrawal of the nozzle.

9. In a container lling apparatus of the character described, thecombination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on the structureto move into and out of the container, pipe means for flowing materialunder pressure to the nozzle for container filling purposes when thenozzle is in the container, means including a rotary device connected tothe pipe means and driven by the material in transit through said pipemeans to the nozzle for raising the nozzle during a container llingoperation, and means for varying the speed of Withdrawal of the nozzlecomprising a valve controlled by-pass in the pipe means and around therotary device.

BERTIE S. HARRINGTON.

